Plaintiff in Mayer Brown Title VII Case Departed With Flair
Last week, we brought you the story of a former Mayer Brown associate who is suing the firm. We have some more back story on the plaintiff, Venus Yvette Springs, and she certainly sounds like a colorful person.
Before joining Mayer Brown, Springs worked at Cadwalader. According to our tipsters, she left CWT in an interesting fashion:
In her departure email from Cadwalader, she quoted all sorts of religious passages and talked about how she wanted to devote her life to pro bono.
Shortly thereafter, she wound up at Mayer Brown — one of the largest and most profitable law firms on the planet.
In her complaint against Mayer Brown, Springs alleged that the firm did not count her pro bono hours as it had promised. Of course, working in the real estate department at a major firm hardly sounds like a life “devoted to pro bono.” She wants to work with clients who can’t pay, but wants to make sure she gets a plump pay check anyway.
But maybe she needed to support her family. Unconfirmed reports say that her husband is Jules Springs. Jules Springs recently pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud. No word on whether or not Mr. Springs was an equal opportunity defrauder.
After the jump, Venus Springs compares her plight at Mayer Brown to the Holocaust. I wish I were making that up.
We don’t have our hands on the departure memo from Cadwalader, but tipsters report that Springs’s Mayer Brown departure memo was a great one:
I wish you all inner peace, a satisfying career and a clear conscience.Parting thought found at Isaiah 33:1.
When I get fired, I like to quote Ezekiel 25:17. I don’t really know what it means, I just think it’s a cold ass thing to say before I bust out of a place of business.
But Springs doesn’t stop with the Bible. Her departure memo continues:
Favorite Quotes: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”—Philosopher Edmund Burke“They came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I
wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up
because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I
wasn’t a Jew;
And then … they came for me … And by that time there was no
one left to speak up.” — Martin Niemoller
Really? Getting let go from a law office in Charlotte is tantamount to this?
It’s a tough economy, but a sense of perspective doesn’t cost any money.
CHARLOTTE ATTORNEY VICTORIA SPROUSE CONVICTED BY FEDERAL JURY [FBI Charlotte]
Ex-Associate Claims Mayer Brown Used Her as ‘Marketing Tool’ [ABA Journal]
Earlier: Title VII Suit Against Mayer Brown
(86) Comments
Comments
and now I've spoken up and its too late.
Don't be disrespecting a sister, Elie.
"Colorful person? Mayer BROWN? This is a racist website created by the white man!"
-- SotomayOR!
I really hope MB doesn't pay a penny to settle this thing.
And then they came for the pretzels, and I spoke up.....because I was firsty.
- 1
"and she certainly sounds like a colorful person."
haha
the last line killed me...i don't buy the byline :-)
Sounds like a spoiled brat to me. And I take personal offense to her Holocaust reference. I don't think that my great aunt starving to death in the ghetto as a child because she was Jewish is remotely akin to being fired at a big law firm because she THINKS it may be because she's black.
Her position on pro bono painted by the post made me throw up in my mouth. Special princess wants someone else to subsidize her humanitarian work because she is just so much of a better person than all who have gone before her and so much smarter. The problem is that giving to others requires...actually giving. These kids just want to skip that whole part about actually creating value that can then be transferred to others. Making money is just what those evil rich companies do. Bad companies, bad. Make your money. Then help out others. But don't expect others to toil away so you can go be a special pro bono snowflake.
That chick be crazy!
#10: for real!
Darwin comes to the workplace.
Perhaps she should read 1 Peter 2:18: "Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh."
Elie-Disappointing linky to the Ezekiel speech to the hamburger crowd in Pulp Fiction. The better speech is when, after quoting the Ezekiel passage, he explains to Ringo (Tim Roth):
I been sayin' that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, it meant your ass. I never really questioned what it meant. I thought it was just a cold-blooded thing to say to a motherfucker before you popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some shit this mornin' made me think twice. Now I'm thinkin': it could mean you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. .45 here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could be you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin, Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.
i hope this isn't racist, but i have a strong dislike for the names african americans give their children
"venus" and "yvette"?? horrible
A surprisingly neutral post about a racial matter from Elie "It's ok for a black guy to murder his ex-wife as long as one local policeman is a racist" Mystal.
The truth is, you're the weak and I am the tyranny of evil men. But I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd.
Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs
OMG A LAWYER GOT INTO A SKYDIVING ACCIDENT AND DIDNT DIE!!!!!!!!!!1
CAN WE PLEASE GET A POST ON THIS?
Time to end affirmative action. It's unfair to everyone. This lady obviously is a loser, but she rose to the top of the shit pile because of her color. She got her jobs because of her color. She doesn't know how to exist without playing the race card whenver it works to her advantage. Tar and feather the bitch.
8,
You're absolutley right. Comparing being fired from a law firm which you think is because of your race with the systematic torture and murder of 11 million men, women, and children???
Epic fail.
While this will likely be dealt with, at latest, summary judgment, I would love to see that email trotted out to a jury.
Obama's destroying America's image abroad:
"UK officials accuse America of treating Britain, with whom it is supposed to have a 'special relationship,' with barely disguised contempt.
"One senior official said: 'The Americans were fully aware of the foreign-policy understanding we have with Bermuda and they deliberately chose to ignore it. This is not the kind of behaviour one expects from an ally.'"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/americas-bermuda-solution-angers-britain-1704147.html
Can't believe she was hired by Cadwalader and Mayer Brown. Well, as I've always said: "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again."
BTW - I think the possessive of Springs is Springs' - not "Springs's" -- But then again I'm Dubya, so what do I know about the proper usage of the English language?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF8DAhMai8Q
Of course the firm hired her as a marketing tool. Firms hire all sorts of folks as marketing tools. They hire minorities, women and gays not only because such individuals are talented, but also because they demonstrate such firms' commitment to diversity. They use such diversity to attract equally diverse clients, who might not otherwise hire them as counsel. If hiring her as a "marketing tool" was wrong, then she is essentially saying that the firm didn't hire her for her legal skills. If the firm didn't hire her for her legal skills, then she shouldn't be working for them.
But she would never come to this realization on her own and declined the firm's employment offer or voluntarily resigned. As far as she's concerned, once the firm hired her, it couldn't fire her even if her skills were lacking, because that's discrimination.
20, well said
Sometimes you just gotta smack a bitch!
Reverend Wright
23: i believe it is springs's
springs' is for when the noun is plural
so for the family it would be "the springs' car"
but for an individual it would be "yvette springs's car"
I must admit that Mystal's blogging/snark skills are improving. He's still no Lat, but he's earning some respect.
So wait a second, you mean when big law firms trot out those glossy brochures with smiling minorities in them, that they've actually hired those people?!? I always thought they were models, or stock photos like the Onion uses. You mean they're actually paid attorneys doing work for the firm? What a crazy world we live in.
22 -
I agree with you.
America's image abroad was so much better when I was President!
It's true, 31. Today, North Korea views our Commander in Chief as a big pussy. At least crazies used to know we'd defend ourselves.
People at the ABA Journal don't think this has anything do to with affirmative action. Can you PLEASE add a comment or two:
http://www.abajournal.com/news/ex-associate_claims_mayer_brown_used_her_as_marketing_tool/
A lawyer that expresses a desire to devote their life to pro bono has no business working for a peer or non-peer firm. There are many charitable organizations that Ms. Springs could have enlisted to work for if it gave her any personal validation. Any attorney that mentions pro bono at the firm is committing a "bacio della morte" to their career. Be guided accordingly.
i'm beginning to think this is all a practical joke. i mean come on, "commercial bribery?" holocaust quotes? this is all a not so sutle ploy to raise the profile of MB and get us all talking about them.
32 -
Yeah. I had that Kim Jong fellow down on his knees screaming "Uncle" when I was President!
Sounds like Venus is from Mars.
True, 36, it's called containment. Same with Iran. But today the N.Koreans have missiles aimed at Hawaii and Alaska, and Obama is telling Iran that it's cool if they build nuclear reactors.
Does Mayer Brown look like a b*tch?
Sounds like Mayer Brown was having its own little Sister Souljah moment.
i liked george w. more when he was confident, come on man MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
"Unconfirmed reports say that her husband is Jules Springs."
Elie, dude, I know that you are just a burnt-out lawyer turned blogger, but don't publish unconfirmed marital relationships.
They are a matter of public record and pretty easy to look up. And if you publish them, don't acknowledge that they are unconfirmed. It just sounds stupid.
And trying to impute her unconfirmed felon husband's bad character on her is stupid also.
Lat, you might want to have a sit down with Elie.
Woe to you, O destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.
Is she hot?
Can you imagine being a destitute person with legal trouble and getting Venus as your attorney?
38 -
Yeah. Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which gives it the legal right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. But I told that Mahmoud fellow that I didn't give a shit about Iran's "legal right." On the other hand, India never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, so its development and use of nuclear energy for any purpose was illegal under international law. Nevertheless, my administration negotiated a nuclear treaty with India. My refusal to be consistent is what made me the master of foreign affairs!
I DEMAND the following:
1) A picture of Ms. Venus.
2) A biography of Ms. Venus
3) Ten minutes where I can slap Venus around like that hysterical woman in the Airplane movie.
Dubya, go back to dailykos. Let grownups talk.
I'm convinced "Dubya" is really a 0L, why else would he cite "international law" as authoritative of anything?
Dubya,
I agree with 48. What you are saying sounds dangerously accurate and based on facts of your leadership of the country.
48 and I would both appreciate it if you could only make statements that reinforce a crazy-ass Dick Cheney-esque view of the world.
Quit actually referring to things you did! Dealing with reality is very frustrating for people such as 48 and myself.
Hey PE, It's me again...
Fuck you ParTTTner EmeriTTTus.
48 -
Is that the best you got?
I guess that's what happens when you get your talking points from Rush.
Don't mess with Texas!
Lol 46, you got your so-called "international law" exactly backwards. The issue was whether Iran was actually using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, since their claim that they really needed the energy is a little suspect given their cheaply available oil. India did not violate any international law because a country is only subject to international laws that it signed up for. Notice how there were UN actions against Iran but not India? Epic fail, try again.
At least the fake Obama trolls have some semblance of credibility.
"Dubya" I hate GWB as much as you do. I just hate it when ideologues with too little to do hijack threads.
Let lawyers comment about lawyer stuff in this lawyer blog.
The anti-GWB blogs are like 45% of the internet. Please go there.
48
C'mon -- obvious headline for this piece:
Defendants are from Mayers, Plaintiff is named Venus.
Yeah, the Republicans did a great job with North Korea!
The best way to conduct diplomacy and avoid escalating a situation towards armed aggression is by utterly refusing to talk to the other side, and affirmatively lumping them together with our other major adversaries in an Axis of Evil! Everyone knows this!
First N. Korea nuclear test during Bush years, a huge success for the Republican policy of non-engagement.
If we don't create new enemies, how will we create a sense of national security panic to scare voters, justify huge outlays to our connected friends with defense contractors, and lead the country into the next war???
Bush never made any progress with Ahmadinejad. Now that we are engaging with them a bit? Mousavi made a reasonably strong showing in a hugely fraudulent election (and may even have won), and the Supreme Leader of the country Ayatollah Khamenei has had to order an investigation (which will most likely be a white wash job).
Therefore, the Republican policy was way better! All this change in direction has gotten us is massive demonstrations by Iranians dissatisfied with their hardline government. Which, as we all know, makes us less safe...
53 -
I'm sure it will be reassuring to all the rogue nations in the world that they only have to care about the laws they "sign up for," and that being a signatory to the UN Charter is meaningless. Besides, you miss the point. The US is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and that treaty restricts the U.S. in its dealings with countries that have not signed the treaty.
It sounds like Cadwalader recommended her to Mayer Brown as a kind of practical joke or awful chain letter.
Does Mayer Brown have a claim against Cadwalader under the Restatement of Contracts (Second) Section 90?
Does Mayer Brown have a claim against Cadwalader under the Restatement of Contracts (Second) Section 90?
Louis Ziccareli makes more money than all of you.
57, I thought you said that India was violating "international law." What's the title of the law that India violated? What's the penalty for the violation? Perhaps some sort of promissory estoppel statute?
My ass lobster would kick her ass lobster's, er, ass. :o
I like Elie's subtle suggestion that it's hypocritical to do pro bono work if you're getting a decent salary. Nice logic there.
Were you better off now than you were six months ago?
Thx, Obama!
Partner meeting held at Charlotte office Friday, p.m.:
Jr. Partner: wut ahrr we goyne to do 'bout thees one, Bubba?
Sr. Partner: Don't know 'bout that. I'm fixin' we should call the boys back from yonder and put all them marketing papers in them there watcha call em', shreddrs.
jr. Partner: Hot Damn! Bubba, you done gone done it ageen! Theet're never gonna catch us now!!!
Sr. Partner: Who'da thunk it. We done gone all outta our ways to help out them n***ers, and this is the thanks we gits. Just ain't right, boy...just ain't right....
The "sounds like a colorful person" comment is out of line. I surmise that the writer thought that it was clever to point out her unique name and suggest that she is black and therefore does not belong in a big firm. Her bible quoting and expectations of pro bono work show that she did not belong, not her race. I liked the article but not the gratuitious slur.
The "sounds like a colorful person" comment is out of line. I surmise that the writer thought that it was clever to point out her unique name and suggest that she is black and therefore does not belong in a big firm. Her bible quoting and expectations of pro bono work show that she did not belong, not her race. I liked the article but not the gratuitious slur.
Nice work both 37 and 44...
16, it's not really "neutral"--Elie takes a clear side in this one.
It's just correct and not the usual reflexively pro-accuser article on allegations of racism.
66 - fucking racist.
62 FTW. India, meet Section 90 of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts.
"The best way to conduct diplomacy and avoid escalating a situation towards armed aggression is by utterly refusing to talk to the other side"
What, were you asleep the past 8 years? Bush II's policy towards North Korea wasn't disengagement, it was multilateral 6 party talks, in which all the regional stakeholders (China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, USA, North Korea) sat down to work out the DPRK issue.
And if you think multilateralism was a failure (it was), the Administration inadvertently did the unilateral talks thing too, when Christopher Hill (our representative to the talks) sat down for one-on-one negotiation with North Korea's representatives, in direct contravention of his orders. He presented the Administration with a fait accompli, which they had no choice but to accept. So they accepted it, and it collapsed in shambles almost immediately.
Hill has, of course, been rewarded for his failures with the ambassadorship to Iraq. We will have to hope he doesn't screw up as badly in the Middle East as he did in Korea.
This is why Obama and the illiberals/regressives are desperate to inflate another asset bubble. Though they hate profits and the companies that make them the Dems and not just a few Repubs understand that without massive amounts of "stupid money" flowing through the system their efforts to wire around Darwin's iron law can't succeed.
When I'm fired, and before I filed my Orc discrimination lawsuit, I will quote this:
"No old friend, you've freed us all."
Thrall
LOKTAR!
When I'm fired, and before I filed my Orc discrimination lawsuit, I will quote this:
"No old friend, you've freed us all."
Thrall
LOKTAR!
Dubya (@46), I think you've consistently misspelled "nukuler."
I hope everyone that defended this affrimative action case in the last set of posts is sufficiently recalcitrant.
I worked with her at Cadwalader and she turned a lot of innocent things into racist attacks, it was just insane.
Hey you people with Obama, Iran, India comments -- you are disrespecting the sacred subject of this post! Cut it out!
42 -- you're probably right that guy is not her husband because if he were I am sure he would be on the gravy train too suing for "loss of normal consortium in the marital relationship" ad nauseum. I'm sure the loss of her booty is worth millions ...
An extremely sad situation overall. Can confirm the marital link and appears that her husband pled guilty a couple of months after she was terminated. I'm sure the link between his fraudulent mortgage-related activities and the firm's mortgage-backed securities practice impacted the firm's "lost confidence" in Ms. Springs. Their young children pay the price.
If anyone has been cursed with a porn name, it's Venus Yvette Spring.
And $10 says "Dubya" looks like Angelina Jolie's incestuous brother, but slightly more petite.
"Dubya" probably took some undergrad seminar on the United Nations, thus of course making him an expert.
Plus, liberals are SO degreed up--they must be smarter...
Racism can drive a person crazy.
http://bible.cc/revelation/3-17.htm
"You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked."
This was the quote from when she left CWT. Same type of email..said something about moving on to better things/working for the poor....then she said something like "parting thoughts can be found at..." then just posted the cite for the verse.
fuck affirmative action and everything about it